Of the great wines of France, Champagne is the newest arrival. Champagne as a district has been making wine since the early Roman times, and by the ninth century it had become sufficiently well established as a high quality region for distinction to be drawn between the wines of the Vallee de la Marne and those of the Montagne de Reims. From this time on it went from strength to strength: by the early sixteenth century, the wine of Ay had become so highly prized that it was said to be 'the ordinary drink of Kings and Princes. It was not until the seventeenth century, however, that the first sparkling wines made their appearance, and not until the nineteenth century that Champagne came to be synonymous with sparkling wine. neither were the numerous special techniques essential for making Champagne all discovered by discovered by one person - notwithstanding the extraordinary feats popularly attributed to Dom Perignon nor at any one time.

The evolution of the present day method of making clear sparkling wine using the second fermentation took over 200 years. Champagne is a wine that appeals to the broadest senses, rather than to the particular. It is the overall impression it leaves in the mouth after it is swallowed which matters most .It is true that the greatest Champagnes are wines of extraordinary finesse, balance, and above all else length of flavours, the intrinsic quality of these wines is on a par with the greatest of the still white or red table wines. Just as the Burgundians place special emphasis on the bouquet, the Bordelais on the palate and structure, so the Champenois claim the finish and, in particular, the aftertaste as a special feature of their wine. Not that all Champagnes taste the same, there is a world of difference between a Pol Roger and a Krug,a Taittinger and Bollinger, let a alone between a vintage Champagne of one of the grandes marques and a non vintage, "buyer's own brand" from one of the cooperatives. Yet the overall consistency of the quality and style and non - vintage Champagne from the grandes marques exceeds that of any other category of wine in any region - an astonishing achievement, given the marginal climate in which the Champenois grow their their grapes, and the fluctuations in supply and demand which they so skilfully manage from making viewpoints.

Assemblage known as blending is the most critical stage of the long and delicate process which makes the finished Champagne. It is the art that made Dom Perignon the most famous oenologist of his day, indeed, perhaps the famous winemaker in history. Blending involves a detailed knowledge of the past, present, and future of the materials, and requires highly specialized tasting skills which can see beyond the often hard, acidic, thin, and chalky base wines that give only a barest glimpse of how they will taste once they have been blended, undergone the second fermentation, benefited from contact with yeasts during years of maturation on the lees, and been adjusted for sweetness using liqueur d'expedition.

The task demands the mental skill of a chess grand master as literally endless permutations and combinations are considered. The blenders at Moet & Chandon typically have 300 different base wines from any one vintage to deal with the possible permutations are beyond calculation. one of the most fascinating, and important aspects of Champagne is the use of "reserve" wine held from earlier vintages. It may be held in magnums under slight gaseous pressure, in stainless steel, or less commonly in oak.

Champagne house's such as Krug have reserve wine of up to twenty years old, although in diminishing quantity with age. They will usually be held over from vintage years,and,tasted on their own, can be superb. reserve wines can be used at three stages in the making of Champagne. They can be incorporated in the primary ferment, then most commonly and importantly at the time of  blending or assemblage along with the liqueur de tirage, and least importantly because of the tiny volume with the liqueur d'expedition . All the Champagne houses privately acknowledge that the quality and style of their reserve wines have a powerful influence on their overall house style, but tend to downplay this importance publicly.

Vintage champagne is strictly directed under European Union legislation, eighty five percent of the wine must be from the stated vintage year, which would allow generous incorporation of reserve wine. Under the appellation controlee of Champagne, the wine must be one hundred percent from its stated vintage. So reserve wines are customarily used in the blending of vintage Champagne - and to its great benefit-just as much as with non-vintage wines. The Champenois and the Comite Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne are ever alert to emphasize their unique combination of terrior and climate. Champagne is France's northern most vineyard region. Without the special properties of its chalk soil, free - draining and sun reflecting, it would be a very doubtful area for ripening grapes.

At Chancellors Cellars we have assembled an extensive range of famous Champagnes for you to select.

	Krug Rose Gift Box Multi Vintage France 750ml x 6 Krug Rose Gift Box Multi Vintage France ....95 points A rose of exceptional character and finesse. Beautifully integrated layers of subtle ginger, orange zest, toast and vanilla give it complexity and depth, and the rich but light texture makes it sublime to sip.	QTY:

	Krug Rose Multi Vintage France 750ml x 6 Krug Rose Multi Vintage France....95 points A rose of exceptional character and finesse. Beautifully integrated layers of subtle ginger, orange zest, toast and vanilla give it complexity and depth, and the rich but light texture makes it sublime to sip.	QTY:

	Krug Vintage 1998 France 750ml x 6 Krug Vintage 1998 ... A statement of an exceptional past vintage, carefully stored in the Krug cellars. An absolute rarity, it is the ultimate expression of the legendary longevity of the Krug champagnes	QTY:

	Krug Vintage 1998 Gift Box France 750ml x 6 Krug Vintage 1998 ... A statement of an exceptional past vintage, carefully stored in the Krug cellars. An absolute rarity, it is the ultimate expression of the legendary longevity of the Krug champagnes.	QTY:

	Krug Vintage Collection 1998 Wooden Box Limited France 750ml x 1 Krug Vintage Collection 1985 Wooden Box Limited France....The wines are made from carefully selected chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier grapes. Krug is a guardian of Champagne tradition in still fermenting its wines in small oak barrels, which gives them an exceptional finesse. Another signature of the Krug style, they are made to mature for at least 6 to 8 years, the reward of which is a distinctive complexity and the ability to age gracefully. Each year, the members of the Krug family blend the different wines that 6 or 8 years later will maintain the high quality and style of their predecessors. Truly exceptional years are consecrated vintage blends. With methods that guarantee the production and blending of only exceptional champagne, its own 19-hectares vineyard, the quality of the 56 hectare vineyards the house buys its precious grapes from and its stock worth 7 years of production, no wonder Krug is the reference for premium champagnes. The mysterious fantasy of fresh living bubbles never fades	QTY:

	Krug Vintage Clos Du Mesnil 1998 Wooden Box France 750ml x 1 Krug Vintage Clos Du Mesnil 1995 Wooden Box France...Since 1843, the Krug family has cultivated the individual character of their exceptional champagne. The Clos du Mesnil a single vineyard planted in 1698,reflects its terroir and vintage in the unmistakable Krug style.	QTY:

	Krug Vintage Clos d' Ambonnay 1996 (Limited Availabilty) France 750ml x 1 "The House of Krug today reaches a landmark in history, and it is my privilege to share a secret we have guarded for so long" "More than two decades after Krug Clos du Mesnil, we are about to release another rare and exceptional champagne- a champagne whose character is so remarkable, it had to be Krug. This new Krug is a celebration of time, of savoir-faire, and one of our best-loved terroirs, revealed now in its fullest, most intense expression. The House of Krug is proud to present Clos d'Ambonnay."Henri and Remi Krug have wanted to produce a single-vineyard vintage Blanc de Noirs almost since they started to produce their Blanc e Blancs from Clos du Mesnil. The journey was to find a jewel vineyard of comparable quality. The village of Ambonnay was no surprise as the Krug family identified Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Ambonnay as the finest sources of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir since the 1840's, and both have played important roles in Krug Grand Cuvee ever since. Henri and Remi's grandfather referred to Ambonnay as "the Chateau Margaux of Champagne."The Krug's were already purchasing fruit from Clos d'Ambonnay in the 1980's when they tried to acquire it for themselves-achieving their goal in the mid-nineties. The vineyard is a mere 1.69 acres (a third of Clos du Mesnil) with only 250 cases produced from their first vintage in 1995. Put in perspective the production of Romanee Conti is double and Le Pin- four times the volume of Clos d'Ambonnay.Clos d'Ambonnay is bound to become a wine of legend with only the very rare few ever being able to try, let alone possess.	QTY:

	Lanson Black Label NV 750ml x 6 Lanson Black Label Brut NV... The second has a lovely, hazy, pale straw colour, with a moderate bead. On the nose there are pleasing, forward notes of honey and straw notes, and little hints of richness. Alongside the full and fresh mousse there is plenty of interest, with mineral and seashell tones alongside more exuberant peachy notes, with an unusual slightly sandy-salty feel, wrapped up in an impressive, vinous mouhfeel. This wine doesn't have the dominating malic acidity that occurs in young Lanson BL although only cellared for just under a year. This delightfully fresh, cleansing, well defined wine is maturing nicely. It is ready to drink now, but should improve over next 3-5 years.	QTY:

	Lanson Brut Rose NV 750ml x 6 Lanson Rosé Label NV.. Barely pink, and rather dirty on the nose, showing heavy-handed sulphur. Despite this the palate holds together well, has a creamy mousse and an attractive balance. There is firm acidity, and a decent red fruit character. Nevertheless, the nose has it.	QTY:

	Laurent Perrier Champagne Brut Non Vintage Reims France 750ml x 6 While champagne shows the character of a specific harvest, non-vintage brut exemplifies the style of a particular House. Freshness, elegance and balance, all of which are typical of Laurent-Perrier's wines, are found in the Brut L-P year after year.	QTY: